Australia – Geography Australia belongs to the highly developed, industrialized part of the world, but is isolated in relation to it. There are 15,000 km to Europe, 12,000 km to the United States and 7,000 km to Tokyo. Australia has huge uninhabited areas and large parts are little explored. Until the arrival of Europeans in… Read More »
OFFICIAL NAME: Fiji Islands CAPITAL CITY: Suva POPULATION: 906,000 (2007) AREA: 18,333 km² OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (S): English, fiji, hindi, andre RELIGION: Christians 52%, Hindus 38%, Muslims 8%, others 2% COIN: dollars CURRENCY CODE: FJD ENGLISH NAME: Fiji INDEPENDENCE: 1970 POPULATION COMPOSITION: Fijians 51%, Indians 44%, others 5% GDP PER residents: $ 2277 (2007) LIFE EXPECTANCY:… Read More »
ETYMOLOGY: The name Kiribati is a transformation of English Gilbert Islands ‘Gilbert Islands’. OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Kiribati CAPITAL CITY: Bairiki POPULATION: 105,000 (2007) AREA: 811 km² OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (S): English, Kiribati (Gilbertese) RELIGION: Catholics 54%, Protestants 39%, Baha’is 2%, Adventists 2%, Mormons 2%, others 1% COIN: Australian dollar CURRENCY CODE: AUD ENGLISH NAME: Kiribati… Read More »
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of the Marshall Islands CAPITAL CITY: Majuro (Dalap-Uliga-Darrit) POPULATION: 60,000 (2007) AREA: 180 km² OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (S): English, Marshallese RELIGION: Protestants 63%, Catholics 7%, Mormons 3%, Jehovah’s Witnesses 1%, others 26% COIN: US dollars CURRENCY CODE: USD ENGLISH NAME: Marshall Islands INDEPENDENCE: 1986 POPULATION COMPOSITION: micronesians 99%, others 1% GDP PER residents:… Read More »
Micronesia, (from the micro ‘ and gr. Nesos ‘ island’), one of the three archipelagos into which the islands of the Pacific Ocean are traditionally divided; the others are Polynesia and Melanesia. Micronesia includes the islands west of the date line and north of the equator; a total of over 2000 islands, almost all very… Read More »
OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Nauru CAPITAL CITY: Yaren POPULATION: 9378 (2011) AREA: 21 km² OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (S): Nauru, English RELIGION: Protestants 66%, Catholics 33%, others 1% COIN: Australian dollars CURRENCY CODE: AUD ENGLISH NAME: Nauru INDEPENDENCE: 1968 POPULATION COMPOSITION: Nauruan 60%, others (Micronesians, Chinese, Australians, etc.) 40% GDP PER residents: 3450 $ (2007) LIFE EXPECTANCY:… Read More »
New Zealand – geography New Zealand is a mountainous country with an extremely rich and varied nature. The South Island is dominated by one longitudinal mountain range, Southern Alps, with Mount Cook (3765 m), the country’s highest mountain. Large areas are uninhabited and rather untouched natural landscapes, but many plains at different heights are used… Read More »
OFFICIAL NAME: Belu’u er a Belau (Republic of Palau) CAPITAL CITY: Koror POPULATION: 20000 (2005) AREA: 488 km² OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (S): Palauan, English, others RELIGION: Catholics 38%, Protestants 25%, Indigenous religions 27%, others 10% COIN: US dollars CURRENCY CODE: USD ENGLISH NAME: Palau INDEPENDENCE: 1994 POPULATION COMPOSITION: Palauans 75%, Filipinos 16%, Chinese 3%, others 6%… Read More »
Papua New Guinea – geography In New Guinea there is to the south lowlands that are drained by the Fly River and other rivers. Geologically and landscape-wise, the lowlands are a continuation of the Australian Plate. Further north is a central highland, which at its widest point includes parallel mountain ranges and fertile valleys, and… Read More »
OFFICIAL NAME: O le Malo Tutoatasi o Samoa CAPITAL CITY: Apia POPULATION: 177000 (2007) AREA: 2831 km² OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (S): Samoan, English RELIGION: Mormons 26%, Catholics 21%, Methodists 12%, Pentecostals 8%, Adventists 4%, other Christians 26%, others 3% COIN: tala CURRENCY CODE: WST ENGLISH NAME: Samoa INDEPENDENCE: 1962 POPULATION COMPOSITION: Polynesian Samoan 88%, mixed 10%,… Read More »
Solomon Islands – geography Solomon Islands consists of two long, parallel ear rows, formed by folds and fractures in the marginal zone between two continental plates. Earthquakes, uplifts, depressions and active volcanoes, such as Bagana on Bougainville, testify that the earth’s crust is still in motion. Most islands are made up of volcanic or highly… Read More »
OFFICIAL NAME: Pule’anga Fakatu’i ‘o Tonga CAPITAL CITY: Nuku’alofa POPULATION: 115,000 (2007) AREA: 748 km² OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (S): tonga, English RELIGION: Methodists 41%, Catholics 16%, Mormons 14%, others 29% COIN: pa’anga CURRENCY CODE: TOP ENGLISH NAME: Tonga INDEPENDENCE: 1970 POPULATION COMPOSITION: Tongans (Polynesians) 96%, mixed 3%, others 1% GDP PER residents: 1671 $ (2007) LIFE… Read More »
ETYMOLOGY: The name Tuvalu comes from Polynesian tu ‘stand, exist’ and valu ‘eight’, egl. ‘unit of eight islands’. OFFICIAL NAME: Tuvalu CAPITAL CITY: Fongafale POPULATION: 10,800 (2012) AREA: 25 km² OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (S): Tuvalu, English, kiribati RELIGION: Protestants 85%, Adventists 4%, Catholics 1%, Jehovah’s Witnesses 1%, Baha’is 1%, others 8% COIN: Australian dollar CURRENCY CODE:… Read More »
Vanuatu ETYMOLOGY: The name Vanuatu comes from Polynesian vanua ‘land’ and tu ‘stand, exist’, egl. ‘unit of land’. OFFICIAL NAME: Ripablik Blong Vanuatu, Republic of Vanuatu CAPITAL CITY: Port Vila POPULATION: 209,000 (2007) AREA: 12,190 km² OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (S): bislama (an English-based pidgin language), French, English (off.), approximately 110 oceanic languages RELIGION: Presbyterians 36%, Catholics… Read More »
Pacific Ocean comprises 25,000 islands, divided into three ethnic, cultural and linguistic regions, Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia, where only a few thousand islands are inhabited. The general dramatic expression is based on the islanders’ everyday life; the sea, family relationships, cultural and social values, legends, etc. and appears as a combination of music, dance, storytelling… Read More »
French Polynesia is located in the Pacific Ocean and consists of several islands. Although French is predominantly spoken, you will also find many Tahitian influences. French Polynesia has several archipelagos, including the well-known Windward and Leeward Islands. These islands are very popular for honeymoons and holidays with snow-white beaches and azure blue water. French Polynesia… Read More »
The versatile and generously sized landscape of Australia is ideal for an adventurous holiday ‘Down Under’. Most tourists will arrive at Sydney or Melbourne airport after a flight of at least twenty hours and then get used to the time zone for a few days. Whether you travel through Australia with a camper, an SUV… Read More »
New Zealand is named after the Dutch province of Zeeland. The country is called Aotearoa in Maori. The country was discovered at the end of 1642 by the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who then thought he was dealing with the south of South America. New Zealand is one of the most isolated countries in the… Read More »
Visa The standard term for processing documents for obtaining a visa to Australia at the embassy is up to 3 weeks. For private and tourist invitations, only a single entry visa to Australia is issued. Upon a service invitation, it is possible to issue a multi-visa (a visa to Australia for a specific period). Reception… Read More »
Public finances, state budget – income, expenditure, balance for the last 5 years The public sector represents 70% of GDP. The main incomes are fishing license fees (almost half of the income), income from national domain fees “tv” (13.7% of income), then income from issuing stamps and coins and development grants. This made it possible… Read More »
Subchapters: Basic data Public finances and the state budget Banking system Tax system Basic data The dramatic drop in GDP growth in 2020 caused by the pandemic was replaced by moderate growth of 1.8% in 2021. This year, the Asian Development Bank also predicts a slight increase in exports. Apart from the mining industry, growth… Read More »
Banking system (major banks and insurance companies) The banking system is controlled by the central bank (The Reserve Bank of NZ). The banking system is legally regulated by The Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act 1989 and The Banking Act 1982 and some other laws. After the deregulation of the banking system, New Zealand has… Read More »
Basic macroeconomic indicators for the last 5 years (nominal GDP/cap., development of GDP volume, inflation rate, unemployment rate). Expected development in the territory with an emphasis on the economic sphere. GDP growth (in %) 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 p 5.8 3.8 3.5 1.8 2.5 2.3 Source: Asian Development Bank Inflation (in %) 2013… Read More »
Subchapters: Basic data Public finances and the state budget Banking system Tax system Basic data The Australian economy is dominated by the service sector (65% of total GDP), mining (13.5% of GDP) and agriculture (2% of GDP). In 2020, Australia went into recession for the first time since 1991, however, thanks to the country’s successful… Read More »
VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in Tonga Russian tourists arriving in the country for a period of not more than 31 days do not need to apply for a visa in advance. It is placed free of charge at the airport upon arrival. You must have a passport with you, valid for at least 6… Read More »
VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in Papua New Guinea A tourist visa is required to enter Papua New Guinea. There is no Embassy of Papua New Guinea in Russia. Assistance to Russian tourists in transferring documents to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Papua New Guinea is provided by the Australian Embassy in… Read More »
VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in Palau Citizens of the Russian Federation do not need to apply for a visa for a tourist trip for a period of not more than 30 days, it will be issued at the airport upon arrival. To do this, you must have with you: – a passport valid for… Read More »
VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in New Zealand Russian citizens wishing to visit New Zealand require a visa. To obtain it, you must submit to the embassy (or consular department) the following documents: – Passport, which expires no earlier than 3 months after the date of application. – a completed application form in English with… Read More »
VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in Federated States of Micronesia If you are going to go on vacation to the Federated States of Micronesia for a period of not more than 30 days, then you do not need to apply for a visa, and a period of 30 days is valid only for one state,… Read More »
VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in Fiji Citizens of Russia do not need to apply for a visa to travel to Fiji. It will be stamped at the international airport upon arrival. To do this, you must have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the end of the planned trip, a return… Read More »